The Kings' and Rangers' New Richards Make An Immediate Impact

During the off season, the Los Angeles Kings and New York Rangers were involved in two of the biggest summer acquisitions. The Rangers were able to sign last season's number one free agent, Brad Richards, while the Kings were involved in summer's biggest trade bringing Mike Richards away form Philadelphia to Los Angeles.

Both players were brought into their respective locker rooms in order to help their new team take a step towards the NHL's biggest prize, the Stanley Cup.

In the first game of both the Kings', Rangers', and their respective Richards' seasons they found themselves in Stockholm, Sweden as a part of the Compuware NHL Premiere games. Both Richards did not wait to make their presence felt.


After two periods of play, and goals by the Kings' Anze Kopitar and Rangers Ryan Callahan, the two teams  found themselves locked at a score of one.

Until Richards made a play off the side boards and fed the puck to Brandon Dubinsky in the slot, where Marian Gaborik put Dubinky's rebound in the back of the net. Putting the Rangers up by one half way through the third period.

However, five minutes later the Kings' Richards tipped in a pass that came from Brad Richardson off the left wing, knotting the game at two and forcing the teams into overtime.

After the Rangers' Ryan Mcdonagh took a penalty late in overtime the Kings' found themselves on a 4-on-3 power play where Richards made his last mark on the game.

Anze Kopitar was on the point for the Kings when he fed the puck to Richards on the goal line. Richards got the puck across to Jack Johnson where he  roofed the puck over a recovering Henrik Lundqvist giving the Kings the 3-2 win.

Both the Rangers and Kings will end their time in Europe as a part of the Compuware NHL Premiere tomorrow when the Kings face the Buffalo Sabres and Rangers take on the Anaheim Ducks.